Backlight assembly and a display device having the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly comprising: a plurality of fluorescent lamps each including a lamp tube having a fluorescent layer, a discharge gas contained in the lamp tube, a first electrode disposed in the lamp tube, and a conductive terminal capacitively coupled to the first electrode; and a lamp socket which secures the plurality of fluorescent lamps.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A backlight assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of fluorescent lamps at least one of the lamps including a lamp tube having a fluorescent layer, a discharge gas contained in the lamp tube, a first electrode disposed in the lamp tube, a capacitor disposed on an end of the lamp tube, a conductive terminal capacitively coupled to the first electrode by the capacitor, a second electrode connected to the first electrode, an insulator disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal and protruding away from the end of the lamp tube to overlap the capacitor, 
 wherein the second electrode is directly disposed on an entire first surface of the capacitor, the conductive terminal is directly disposed on an entire second surface of the capacitor and the first and second surfaces are opposite each other; and 
 a lamp socket which secures the plurality of fluorescent lamps. 
 
     
     
       2. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode surrounds the end of the lamp tube, and wherein the second electrode and the conductive terminal are capacitively coupled to each other. 
     
     
       3. The backlight assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the capacitor is disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       4. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive terminal surrounds the insulator. 
     
     
       5. The backlight assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the capacitor is disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       6. The backlight assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the capacitor, the conductive terminal and the insulator are integrally formed with each lamp and the conductive terminal is configured to be inserted into a connecting terminal of a lamp socket. 
     
     
       7. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive terminal surrounds the end of the lamp tube. 
     
     
       8. The backlight assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the capacitor is disposed between the first electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       9. The backlight assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the capacitor comprises a multilayer ceramic capacitor. 
     
     
       10. The backlight assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a housing connected to the first electrode with the capacitor as a medium therebetween, and wherein the housing is additionally connected to the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       11. The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive terminal is configured to be connected to a lamp socket to receive a drive voltage. 
     
     
       12. A display device, comprising:
 a display panel which displays an image; 
 a plurality of fluorescent lamps, at least one of the lamps including a lamp tube having a fluorescent layer, a discharge gas contained in the lamp tube, a first electrode disposed in the lamp tube, a capacitor disposed on an end of the lamp tube, a conductive terminal capacitively coupled to the first electrode by the capacitor, a second electrode connected to the first electrode, an insulator disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal and protruding away from the end of the lamp tube to overlap the capacitor, 
 wherein the second electrode is directly disposed on an entire first surface of the capacitor, the conductive terminal is directly disposed on are entire second surface of the capacitor and the first and second surfaces are opposite each other; and 
 a lamp socket which secures the plurality of fluorescent lamps thereto. 
 
     
     
       13. The display device of  claim 12 , wherein the second electrode surrounds the end of the lamp tube, and wherein the second electrode and the conductive terminal are capacitively coupled to each other. 
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitor is disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive terminal surrounds the insulator. 
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 15 , wherein the capacitor is disposed between the second electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive terminal is inserted into a connecting terminal of the lamp socket. 
     
     
       18. The display device of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive terminal surrounds the end of the lamp tube. 
     
     
       19. The display device of  claim 18 , wherein the capacitor is connected between the first electrode and the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       20. The display device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one lamp further comprises a housing connected to the first electrode with the capacitor as a medium therebetween, and wherein the housing is additionally connected to the conductive terminal. 
     
     
       21. The display device of  claim 12 , wherein the lamp socket secures both ends of the plurality of fluorescent lamps, and comprises first and second sockets for connecting the plurality of fluorescent lamps in parallel. 
     
     
       22. The display device of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive terminal is connected to the lamp socket to receive a drive voltage.